Caribbean literature

Caribbean literature

Introduction

'Triumph” is an interesting short story with considerable background on the Caribbean literature. The distinct, sad flavor, the absence of hope, and being extremely low on the social ladder with little chances of escape, and a better situation has created a great essence in the story. The story does not only create sympathy with the female victims, they are said to be conniving, witty and manipulative. The condition of the people of Trinidad has been pathetic, their culture has been destroyed by economic expansion and poverty has made it difficult for them survive. It tells the story of the miserable lives of the islanders, especially the females and their living conditions. The story mainly is concerned about the interactions between 3 main characters of Celestine, Mamitz and Irene. The inequality in social classes affected their lives, and made it difficult for them to survive in the society. The women in the story are using men to live and get their needs fulfilled as the inequality present in the society would not let them survive. The women (Celestine, Mamitz and Irene) have been facing several discriminations, but the activities that they adopted of using men in every possible way do not justify their unethical behavior or proves them innocent.

James has several contributions to the literature and was a renowned Trinidadian philosopher, historian, journalist and essayist. He has dedicated many years of his life writing about Caribbean and Afro-nationalism. James was initially a teacher before becoming a writer and political activist. In his writing career, there was a mixture of innovative and classic features in the early stories that he wrote.

Discussion

The people of Trinidad were living with high levels of poverty and poor living conditions, but still were conscious about their social and economic class. People of this destroyed island had norms and rituals which they considered and followed. The females living in this area have been facing miserable situations, and have faced several difficulties in making their survival for which they adopted different unethical behaviors. There have been several incidents and events taking place in the story that leaves a message for understanding, and gives a review on the Caribbean literature.

The ordinary African-descendent woman has been the main subject of discussion. Mamtiz was a black women, too black to be pure negro,and probably had some Madrasi East Indian blood in her. “The beating had never worried Mamitz. To her and her type those were minor incidents” (triumph, 88). Like some other women, Mamitz was also involved in the activity of using men. It is of a fact that women at that time were not treated equally in the society, and did not have that social standing, but the way Mamitz took advantage of the men not caring about the consequences they might later face proves her guilty.

Mamitz went out and tried to work as a cook or do washing, but unfortunately got nothing to do. These women have been living hard and deprived lives, where black ...